Bulgarian Orthodox Church

St John of Rila honoured 1,080 years after his repose, Bulgarian Patriarch calls him ‘source of hope’

Saint John of Rila was commemorated on Wednesday at Rila Monastery in Bulgaria, marking 1,080 years since his repose in the Lord. On this occasion, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniil of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church highlighted the saint’s spiritual legacy, describing him as “a source of hope, spiritual help, an example and a guide for our…

Aug 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to visit Bulgaria for feast of St John of Rila

His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I will visit Bulgaria on 19 October for the feast of St John of Rila. The announcement was made on Friday during the Service of Supplication to the Mother of God held at the Church of St John of Rila of the Bulgarian community in Constantinople. The visit will take…

Aug 12, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch of Bulgaria: Autocephaly is a measure of a local Church’s maturity

“Autocephaly is a measure of the maturity of a local Church in indissoluble communion with the other local Churches, members of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church,” noted Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria last Saturday, as the Bulgarian Orthodox Church marked the 80th anniversary of its autocephaly recognition. His Beatitude emphasized that the world is…

Feb 26, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Archimandrite Ambrose, Abbot of Zograf Monastery on Mount Athos, falls asleep in the Lord

Archimandrite Ambrose, Abbot of Zograf Monastery on Mount Athos, passed away on Monday at the age of 85, as announced by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Father Ambrose (Tyrolenkov) graduated from the Sofia Theological Seminary near Cherepish, Bulgaria. In 1973, he entered Bačkovo Monastery as a novice, and four years later, he was tonsured as a monk.…

Jan 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bulgarian Patriarch Daniil celebrates name day with warm wishes from religious and state leaders

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria celebrated his first name day as Patriarch on Wednesday, coinciding with the feast of St. Daniel the Stylite, following his election earlier this year. Hierarchs from the Holy Synod of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church joined their Primate at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Kyriaki (Nedelya) in Sofia, where the…

Dec 12, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Centenary of Sofia’s St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral: A celebration of inter-Orthodox unity

On Saturday, the 100th anniversary of the consecration of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia marked a moment of inter-Orthodox communion. Alongside Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria, hierarchs from most local Orthodox Churches participated in the celebration of St. Alexander Nevsky. His Grace Bishop Ieronim of Dacia Felix represented the Romanian Orthodox Church at the event. “Times…

Nov 25, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Church is among the most trusted institutions in Bulgaria, Gallup survey reveals

According to a Gallup International Balkans survey cited by the Bulgarian News Agency, the Church is one of the most trusted institutions in Bulgaria. The survey, conducted between August 1 and 9 on a sample of 802 people representing the population aged 18 and older, shows that respondents were divided as follows: 75.3% Orthodox Christians,…

Sep 17, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Bulgarian Bishop Makary of Glavinitsa urges parents to follow example of Sts Joachim and Anna at Bucharest church

His Grace Bishop Makary of Glavinitsa, the assistant bishop of the Metropolitan of Ruse from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, celebrated the Divine Liturgy Monday at the Oborul Vechi Church of Saints Joachim and Anna in Bucharest. In his sermon, he emphasized Saints Joachim and Anna’s unwavering trust in God’s plan: “We must have this same…

Sep 12, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian, Bulgarian hierarchs at additional feast of St. Demetrius the New: We ask him to protect our Churches and peoples

On Friday evening, July 12, after the all-night vigil and procession with the relics of Saint Demetrius the New, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel delivered a welcome message to Metropolitan Naum of Ruse. “Joining us now, this evening, and tomorrow during the Divine Liturgy, which will begin at 8:30 AM, is His Eminence Metropolitan Naum of…

Jul 15, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate delegation visits Sofia Embassy during enthronement of new Bulgarian Patriarch

The delegation of the Romanian Patriarchate invited for the enthronement of Bulgaria’s Patriarch Daniil also visited the Romanian Embassy in Sofia on Sunday. The delegation, consisting of His Eminence Hon Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop of Târgoviște and Patriarchal Exarch, and Hierodeacon Nicolae Iftimiu, Patriarchal Counsellor and Director of the Basilica News Agency, was received by Her…

Jul 4, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniil’s first liturgy honours Bulgaria’s patron Saint John of Rila

The first Divine Liturgy celebrated by the newly enthroned Patriarch Daniil of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church was dedicated to the remembrance of the saint who protects Christians in the neighbouring country: St. John of Rila, the founder of Bulgarian monasticism. Patriarch Daniil served at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia on Monday, the day the…

Jul 3, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu